Warriors: A New Beginning #1: The Beginning

Chapter 17

Wavepelt awoke in her nest.

In my nest? How had she gotten back to the ThunderClan camp? Last thing she remembered was searching for Waterfall and getting knocked out. Then she noticed something strange: No one was sleeping around her.

She padded out of the warriors den and looked around the clearing. No one was there either.

She checked the nursery. No kits or queens.

She checked the elders den. No elders.

She checked the medicine cat den. Not even a trace of Mintleaf.

She checked all the dens—but there was no one in sight.

She wanted to yowl: Where is everybody? But she didn't.

Then she noticed a gray and white cat just next to the camp entrance.

"Who is it?" she asked warily.

The cat's head poked into the camp, and Wavepelt recognized who it was at last.

"Wolfpaw!" she cried. "So I'm not actually in the ThunderClan camp. I'm dreaming, aren't I?"

Wolfpaw didn't answer, just gazed at Wavepelt.

"Am I dead?" Wavepelt asked, eyes widened.

Wolfpaw shook his head. "Of course not. You have still much to do. You are just dreaming."

"It's been so long!" Wavepelt ran to nuzzle Wolfpaw. "Why have you come?"

"Just to tell you to persevere." Wolfpaw lowered his gaze. "Things will be hard to get Waterfall back."

"Why did he leave?" Wavepelt meowed softly.

"That, only he can tell you," Wolfpaw said.

"Do you know why?" Wavepelt asked.

Wolfpaw nodded. "But I know I can't tell you."

"Why?" Wavepelt mewed.

"It's a secret that only he can tell," Wolfpaw said simply.

Wavepelt sighed. "I don't know how I'll get Waterfall back. He's an older warrior than I am...He could easily beat me in a fight if he wanted to."

"Di you think you can get him back?" Wolfpaw asked.

Wavepelt thought for a moment, then said:

"I believe I can, if I find the right way."

"Good." Wolfpaw nodded in approval. "Think of something. Remember, there is more than one way, but only one right way." Then he started to fade away.

"Wolfpaw, wait!" Wavepelt called. "I have so much to ask you..."

"You will find the answers soon enough," Wolfpaw whispered, then he disappeared.

"Wolfpaw..." Wavepelt murmured. "How I wish that you were still alive."

***

She woke up in a dark area, feeling very weak and tired. She saw a small opening in front of her. Where am I?

She tried to move, but grunted as she felt brambles pierce her side.

Wavepelt realized that she had been tied in brambles...probably to keep her from escaping the den. She saw blood pool around her. They didn't treat my wounds...whoever 'they' is.

She scented a strong scent of rogue. This must be the rogue's camp. Those two cats had probably been part of this group. Was Waterfall part of it as well? She couldn't imagine the black and grey warrior living as a rogue. But again, he said that he wasn't a Clan cat anymore.